Overhead ventilation system incorporating a downwardly configured rear supply plenum with upward configured directional outlet and including baffle plates and dampeners incorporated into the plenum for evenly distributing an inlet airflow through the plenum outlet

ABSTRACT

A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance to maintain an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance. A hood establishes a three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration and which is supported above the appliance. A filter within the hood communicates with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from the enclosed space. A supply plenum secures in downwardly and opposing fashion relative to a side of the cooking appliance. An air intake communicates the supply plenum with an exterior environment, the plenum including at least one air flow restricting and redistributing baffle plate and terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by the hood and thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No.11,531,987, filed Sep. 14, 2006, for an Overhead Ventilation SystemIncorporating a Downwardly Configured Rear Supply Plenum with UpwardConfigured Directional Outlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an overhead ventilationsystem, such as is utilized in combination with commercial cookingappliances or industrial oven processes. More particularly, the presentinvention teaches a ventilation system, such as in use with a commercialpizza or other food related cooking process and by which products ofsuch process include heated air, grease and/or other contaminants. Thepresent invention is an improvement over prior art oven hood designs,and by which an associated inlet plenum is reconfigured to assist inintroducing air from an exterior, this including the incorporation ofinterior baffling elements for slowing down an intake velocity of airinto the supply plenum, including evenly distributing the air along thewidth of the plenum and prior to the air being introduced in upwardlydirected proximity to the cooking appliance, this further while reducingthe requirement for oversized air conditioning or heated makeup airunits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art is well documented with examples of oven hood and makeupair devices, such as which are utilized in the removal of heat andairborne particulates (i.e., grease, other solids, etc.) associated withan oven and cooking equipment process of some type. A common objectiveof such makeup devices is both the removal and concurrent replacement ofqualified/conditioned air within an interior location in which the ovenprocess and cooking equipment is located and which may include bothcommercial restaurants, bakeries, pizzerias, and the like.

A common problem in the prior art is the tendency of such devices tointroduce significant volumes of untreated air, requiring furthersignificant capacity from such as air conditioning and heated makeup airunits. The cost of maintaining a desired interior air temperature cantherefore be greatly increased, both in terms of heating or conditioningvolumes of makeup introduced. A further problem associated with theprior art is the tendency of the makeup air to be unevenly introducedthrough its associated supply plenum, such as in terms of intakevelocity as well as lateral distribution (or spread) across the width ofthe plenum and prior to introduction into the interior environment atwhich the cooking equipment is located.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a supply plenum module incorporated intoan improved filter and ventilation system associated with a cookingappliance and which maintains a desired pressure balance, orequilibrium, within an enclosed space in which the appliance is situatedduring filtration of the same. In particular, the module operates incooperation with the associated ventilation system in order tointroduce, from an exterior location, a volume of raw untreated air forsubsequent conditioning and conveyance to the inner hood perimeter, thesame balancing the outflow of exhaust air drawn through an associatedfilter and evacuated from the hood and in order to prevent or minimizethe loss of other conditioned air (heated or cooled) existing within theenclosed space.

The intake associated with the plenum typically includes a pair ofindividual branches for contacting the plenum at spaced apart sidelocations, this better serving to distribute intake air in balancedfashion along the entire length of the module. Balancing dampeners areincorporated into a location of each intake branch, for regulating anintake airflow into a first elongated and downwardly extending manifoldor passageway.

A further pair of elongate and widthwise extending baffle plates aremounted within the first downwardly extending passageway, each of thebaffle plates being arranged in a generally widthwise extending andspaced apart fashion. The baffle plates each exhibit pluralities ofapertures, such as establishing a varying percentage by surface area ofopen space for admittance of an intake airflow.

In one application, a first (upper) of the baffle plates exhibits a 48%,by area, of open space defined by the flow through apertures, with asecond lower spaced apart baffle plate reducing the flow through area to40% (such as by smaller or fewer dispersed apertures defined in thebaffle plate).

The downwardly extending passageway communicates with a second, shorter,and upturned passageway terminating in a lengthwise extending outlet.The extended length of the intake supply plenum, combined with theprovision and arrangement of the balancing dampers and the baffleplates, establish a reduced velocity and evenly distributed inlet flowfor introduction at the lengthwise and upturned outlet relative to theside of the cooking appliance.

The arrangement and configuration of the hood further serves to betterwarm and precondition the raw intake air for rising within the hoodinterior. The configuration and arrangement of the plenum results in avolume of intake air introduced generally equaling that exhausted fromthe hood and, by virtue of establishing a pressure equilibrium withinthe hood interior which is facilitated by the 1) heating, 2) slowedvelocity and 3) more evenly distributed intake flow from the plenum,thereby preventing loss of additional volumes of quality AC or heatconditioned air, from within the enclosed space, and which may otherwisebe vacuum drawn and expelled by the overhead hood.

The length and depth of the supply plenum, in cooperation with thebalancing dampers and internal baffling plates, further assists inmaintaining an air velocity (i.e., speed of air) out of the supplyplenum. The maintenance of a desired air velocity out of the supplyplenum does not affect the exhaust air drawn and evacuated. Further, thedirectional upward outlet of the present invention introduces air flowas the heated (thermal) air flow of the cooking device.

As is known, heated air rises naturally off cooking appliances, with theupwardly introduced air assisting in the removing of heat, odor, grease,and gas by-products more efficiently. In this fashion, the untreated airintroduced by the present ventilation system does not affect the airtemperature of the room and again further serves to reduce the need formechanical makeup air treatment devices (e.g. again heaters or chillers)to replace other quality internal conditioned air associated with theenvironment within which the cooking appliance is maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read incombination with the following detailed description, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a first environmental view, in perspective, of the ventilationsystem according to the present inventions in operative arrangement withrespect to an item of conventional cooking equipment;

FIG. 2 is a backside rotated environmental view of the ventilationsystem of FIG. 1 and further illustrating the manner and extent to whichthe rear supply plenum module extends relative to a backside of thecooking equipment, as well as illustrating the arrangement andconfiguration of the upper balancing dampers incorporated into theintake branches of the manifold, as well as the widthwise extendingbaffle plates for additionally slowing and evenly distributing theadmitted intake flow prior to introduction into the cooking applianceenvironment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ventilation system as illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional inner facing view of the supply plenum moduleaccording to the present inventions;

FIG. 5 is a cutaway view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, andillustrating a side profile of the supply plenum module;

FIG. 6 is a partial view of a lower corner portion of the supply plenummodule and illustrating the inner and upturned arrangement of the inletface and upon which is disposed a perforated plate;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view taken from FIG. 2 and further showing thepivotal opening/closing nature of the selected balancing damperassociated with an intake branch of the manifold; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective of a plenum configuration according to afurther preferred embodiment and illustrating a further possiblereconfiguration in which the a selected baffle plate can be repositionedalong the upturned and widthwise extending outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first environmental view is generally shownat 10 in perspective of a ventilation system according to the presentinventions in operative arrangement with respect to an item ofconventional cooking equipment 12. As will be further described inadditional detail, the present inventions include both an overallsystem, as well as a supply plenum (this defining a three dimensionaland elongated module) 14 secured to an overhead hood 16 incorporatedinto the improved filter and ventilation system, and which is associatedwith the cooking appliance 12 to maintain a desired pressure balance, orequilibrium, within an enclosed space in which the appliance 12 issituated during filtration of the same. In particular, the plenum 14operates in cooperation with the associated ventilation system in orderto introduce, from an exterior location, a volume of raw untreated airfor subsequent conditioning and conveyance to an inner hood perimeter,the same balancing the outflow of exhaust/filtered air withdrawn fromthe hood 16 and in order to prevent or minimize the loss of otherconditioned air (heated or cooled) existing within the enclosed space.

Referencing again FIG. 1, as well as the rotated view of FIG. 2 andexploded illustration of FIG. 3, the hood 16 is constructed of such as astainless steel material and which defines a generally rectangular andinteriorly recessed three-dimensional configuration positioned inoverlaying and, typically, elevated fashion above the piece of cookingequipment 12. The article of equipment 12 in the illustrated variant isshown as a pizza oven, however it is further understood that any type ofcooking or heat generating equipment, whether food industry related orotherwise, is contemplated without limitation.

Features generally associated with the hood 16 include a filter (see inphantom at 18 in FIG. 1) and typically consisting of a baffle or otherknown type of filter for providing entrapment of grease and otherparticulates. The filter 18 may include either a single elongatedelement or a number of individual and attachable sections (see at 18 a,18 b, 18 c, et seq., in FIG. 4) which are secured at top 20 and bottom22 locations associated with the hood interior and in order to extendacross its inner length between first 24 and second 26 ends. A removablegrease container 28, see as further shown in FIG. 1, is arrayed at aslightly downwardly sloped end of the bottom filter support 22, thesupport 22 further being interiorly recessed in upwardly facing fashionin order to collect grease and other liquid particulates captured by thefilter and collected in gravity flowing fashion within the cup forsubsequent emptying.

Pluralities of elongated support hangers 30 and 32 are provided forsecuring typically both the hood 12 and associated plenum 14 to aceiling supporting location 34 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) associated with theenclosed interior. A vacuum driven exhaust secures to a communicatinglocation 36 formed in a top surface of the hood 12 and includes a lengthof ductwork 38 interconnected to such as a blower 40 or other vacuumgenerating component located at an exterior location from the enclosedinterior space. An incandescent light fixture 42 (see in phantom in FIG.4) is secured to an interior location associated with the hood 12(typically its inner top surface as shown).

Referring again to each of FIGS. 1-3, as well as to succeeding views ofFIGS. 4-6, the supply plenum 14 defines an elongated andthree-dimensional shaped module and which is capable of either beingsecured in contacting fashion to the hood 12 or, alternatively, securedin a similar arrayed and downwardly depending fashion relative to thehood. As illustrated, the plenum 14 is secured along its upperlengthwise extending edge, see at 44, in cooperating fashion along acorresponding and lengthwise defined side edge of the hood 12 (this asshown in the drawings and extending between hood ends 24 and 26). Theplenum module 14 can be secured mechanically (such as by welding orfasteners) to the hood 12 and, as is shown, is further supported byadditional support hangers 30 and 32 and in order properly balance theoverall assembly. Additional features, such as a pair of skirts 41 and43, are secured by associated fasteners 45 and 47 to ends of the hood 12and such that the skirts overlay associated ends of the plenum 14.

An air intake is provided for supplying raw air from an exteriorlocation to the plenum 14 and includes an exterior vent 46 which iscommunicated through the ceiling 34, extends downwardly at 48 and thensplits into branches 50 and 52 for subsequent communication at twolocations with the upper edge 44 of the supply plenum module 14. A pairof balancing dampers, see at 51 and 53, are provided in each of theintake branches 50 and 52, respectively.

The balancing dampers 51 and 53 capable of being individually (oralternatively) manipulated/pivoted to varying opening/closing positions(see also enlarged illustration of FIG. 7 illustrating selected damper51 associated with intake branch 50) and operate in a first intake stageto equalize the intake flow and velocity of the air drawn from theexterior vent 46, prior to introduction into the plenum module 14. Theair intake assembly is designed to provide an adequate volume of rawexterior air to the supply plenum 14, and it is accordingly contemplatedthat other single or multiple manifold configurations are envisioned bywhich an adequate input airflow can be established.

As further illustrated throughout the several views, the plenum 14exhibits a generally three-dimensional and elongated configurationincluding a flattened exterior and vertical extending face, see at 56,and which in combination with an opposite interior face 58 defines afirst downwardly extending and main interior passageway (or manifold)for communicating the raw air withdrawn through the intake branches 50and 52 and into the plenum body. Additional to the balancing dampers 51and 53 associated with the intake branches 50 and 52, a further pair ofelongate and widthwise extending baffle plates 55 and 57 are mountedwithin the first downwardly extending and interior passageway.

Each of the baffle plates 55 and 57 are arranged in a generallywidthwise extending and vertically spaced apart fashion within theplenum interior and as shown in each of FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. The baffleplates 55 and 57 can extend in a parallel or angularly fashion, and eachfurther exhibits an individual plurality of apertures, such asestablishing a varying percentage by surface area of open space foradmittance of an intake airflow.

In one application, a first (or upper) of the baffle plates, previouslyidentified at 55 exhibits a 48%, by area, of open space defined by aplurality of flow through apertures 59. A second lower spaced apartbaffle plate, previously identified at 57, includes a further pluralityof apertures 61, these reducing the flow through area to 40% (this alsocapable of being accomplished both by the provision of smaller aperturesor the use of fewer dispersed apertures defined in the baffle plate).The above example is understood to provide only one possible selectionof flow through percentages associated with one desired operationalvariant, and it envisioned and understood that the relative percentagesof available flow through area defined in each of the baffle plates canbe adjusted, such as according to any range of constriction between1-99%. It is further understood that, while the relative flow throughpassage of the upper baffle plate 55 is typically some percentagegreater than that associated with the lower baffle plate 57, othervariants can contemplate the upper baffle plate being more restrictiveas between the two.

As shown in FIG. 2, the combination of the balancing dampers 51 and 53and the baffle plates 55 and 57 serve to regulate (i.e. typically toslow down the intake velocity) and evenly distribute (such as in alaterally spread out direction) the intake airflow from the intake 48.This is further represented by airflow indicator arrows 63, 65 and 67,with arrows 63 representing a first regulation or reallocation of intakeair from the balancing dampers 51 and 53 to the first/upper baffle plate55, arrows 65 representing a further step-down of velocity, as well asadditional widthwise equalization of air flow between the upper baffleplate 55 and the second lower baffle plate 57.

A second (shorter) and reverse angled with upwardly extending passageway60 (see as further best generally shown in cutaway view of FIG. 5)communicates with the first passageway via rounded bottom 62, andterminates in a lengthwise extending and upwardly facing outlet 64. Theadditional plurality of arrows 67 represented in FIG. 2 illustrates themanner in which the outlet air flow from the second/lower baffle plate57 is finally regulated in a most evenly distributed and desirousvelocity profile prior to being discharged through the outlet 64.

As again shown, the outlet 64 is disposed in a generally inner/upwardlyfacing manner and, in an alternative embodiment as best shown in FIG. 6,can further include a perforated plate 66 secured thereover, the plate66 including additional apertures 69. The plate 66 can operate as athird additional baffle plate (as shown in FIG. 6) or the plate 66 cansubstituted for one or both of the plates 55 and 57 (see as furthershown in FIG. 8) for reducing the velocity and equalizing the flowpattern established across the interior profile of the supply plenum 14.

In this fashion, the raw intake air drawn into the (typically stainlesssteel) plenum is caused to be warmed, and regulated in its velocity anddirectional profile, this again by virtue of the extending lengths ofthe associated passageways, primarily downward with balancing dampersand baffle plates and, to a lesser extent, reverse upwardly and outthrough the outlet 64. The intake air is directed so that it isdischarged through the outlet 64 in a position generally at or below thecooking equipment 12 and in a spaced fashion along a rear side of theequipment 12. The arrangement and direction of distribution of theoutlet airflow is further such that it will not cause to impact thecooking equipment 12 (thereby adding to the heat content of the air)and, as a result, is rather caused to rise and to be entrapped withinthe defined inner perimeter of the hood 16 along with the heat risingfrom the cooking equipment 12, and further so as not to inadvertently(such as vacuum) draw in conditioned interior air from the environmentsurrounding the cooking equipment and which may otherwise be drawn outthrough the hood.

As is known, and in order for a ventilation system to properly operate,an amount of air exhausted must be balanced by an equal amount of airintroduced back into the room or enclosure and to balance the system.The performance of the ventilation system (i.e. its functionality) is tocapture and contain such as heat, odors, grease and the like whilemaintaining the proper volumetric air balance (this again reducing thelosses of pretreated quality interior air not directly related to thecooking appliance).

As such, the ability to balance an intake volume of air, through thesupply plenum, across its outlet and in heat generated fashion up intoits hood perimeter, operates to replace similar volumes of air exhaustedthrough the hood, and without the otherwise undesirable consequence ofthe conditioned internal air (this being the air heated or airconditioned within the enclosed space by such as AC condensers or airmakeup units) being vented through the hood as a result of an imbalancedatmospheric condition created within the enclosure. The ability to drawupon a limitless volume of raw intake air, as described herein, isintended to save on the otherwise necessary expense of providingadditional air conditioning/eating capacity to the room enclosure andthe concurrent waste of additional energy dollars necessary to maintainan internal room condition in which the quality air is being ventedthrough the hood along with the heated byproduct air associated with theappliance.

In the above described fashion, the percentage of makeup air required tobalance the overall ventilation system is introduced behind theconventional cooking appliance through the rear positioned supply plenumwith upward directional outlet, and thereby in a direction towards thebaffle filters 18. The advantage with the upward directional outlet isthat the introduced air (again not requiring any pretreatment such asheating or cooling) is maintained in the capture area (again defined asthe inside perimeter of the hood) and which will not otherwise affectthe quality and volume of the conditioned air (heated or cooled) withinthe interior enclosed (kitchen) environment. Furthermore, the operationof the present system does not affect the air temperature within theroom enclosure, nor does it affect the effectiveness of the hood tocapture and contain the byproducts of the cooking operation.

As previously stated, the introduced air does not require any othertreatment. Any balance of required makeup air is typically supplied bythe existing heating and cooling equipment or provided by smallermechanical equipment than that which is required in standard ventilationsystems. The additional advantage of the system is the ability toprovide a properly balanced ventilation system while concurrentlyoperating to capture the greases, odors, and gas byproducts associatedwith the cooking appliance and vent its associated heat emanations. Theoutlet air velocity may also be lower than that associated with theintake and, combined with the introduction of the intake air flow in theupward direction (same as the thermal/heated air) contributes to theeffectiveness and efficiency of the system.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferredembodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which itpertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

1. A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance which maintainsan atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed spacesurrounding the cooking appliance, said system comprising: a hoodestablishing a substantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessedconfiguration and which is supported in generally elevated fashion abovethe appliance, said hood incorporating a filter communicating with avacuum driven exhaust extending from said hood and the enclosed space;and a supply plenum secured in downwardly and opposing fashion relativeto a side of the cooking appliance, an air intake communicating saidsupply plenum with an exterior environment, said plenum furtherincluding at least one baffle plate secured within its widthwiseextending interior for regulating at least one of a flow velocity anddistribution of an airflow originating from said air intake, said plenumterminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake airalong the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating theintake air within a perimeter defined by said hood thereby minimizingloss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.
 2. Theventilation system as described in claim 1, said hood exhibiting aspecified shape and size and further comprising a generally rectangularshape.
 3. The ventilation system as described in claim 2, said plenumexhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising athree-dimensional and elongated module secured along a side edge of saidhood, said at least one baffle plate further comprising first and secondspaced apart baffle plates mounted within said plenum in widthwiseextending and vertically spaced apart fashion.
 4. The ventilation systemas described in claim 3, said first baffle plate exhibiting a firstsurface area, by percentage of flow through apertures, said secondbaffle plate being position below said first baffle plate and exhibitinga second surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures which isless than said first percentage associated with said first baffle plate.5. The ventilation system as described in claim 3, further comprising apair of elongated and substantially planar skirts secured in downwardlyextending fashion from first and second ends of said hood, said skirtsoverlaying associated ends of said supply plenum, said plenum outletextending in substantially lengthwise fashion between said ends.
 6. Theventilation system as described in claim 1, further comprising anadditional elongated and perforated baffle plate secured over saidplenum outlet.
 7. The ventilation system as described in claim 5, saidplenum exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising afirst downwardly extending passageway in communication with said airintake and incorporating said first and second baffle plates, a secondreverse angled and upwardly extending passageway communicating with saidfirst passageway and terminating in said outlet.
 8. The ventilationsystem as described in claim 1, further comprising a vacuum generatingblower incorporated into an exterior location of said exhaust.
 9. Theventilation system as described in claim 1, further comprising aplurality of elongated support hangers extending from a ceiling locationof the enclosed space and securing to respective top face locationsassociated with at least one of said support plenum and said hood. 10.The ventilation system as described in claim 1, said filter exhibiting aspecified shape and size and further comprising a baffle filter securedin angled fashion between first and second interior defining ends ofsaid hood.
 11. The ventilation system as described in claim 10, saidhood interior further comprising respective upper and lower lengthwiseextending supports for securing said baffle filter in communication withsaid vacuum driven exhaust, a grease collection trap associated with atilted end location providing for disposal of liquid based contaminantscollected by said filter.
 12. The ventilation system as described inclaim 1, further comprising an incandescent light fixture secured to aninterior location associated with said hood.
 13. The ventilation systemas described in claim 3, said air intake further comprising first andsecond branches communicating with individual locations associated withsaid elongated module, each of said branches incorporating a balancingdamper for adjusting the intake air flow from said branches and prior todelivery to said plenum and passage through said baffle plates.
 14. Aventilation system for use with a cooking appliance which maintains anatmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed spacesurrounding the cooking appliance, said system comprising: a hoodestablishing a substantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessedconfiguration overlaying the appliance, a vacuum driven exhaustextending from said hood and the enclosed space; and an elongated supplyplenum extending downwardly from an associated side of the cookingappliance and which is supplied by an air intake communicating with anexterior environment, said air intake including at least one balancingdamper for adjusting an intake air flow, said plenum further comprisingat least one at least one baffle plate secured within its widthwiseextending interior for regulating at least one of a flow velocity anddistribution of an airflow originating from said air intake, said plenumterminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake airalong the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating theintake air within a perimeter defined by said hood thereby minimizingloss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.
 15. Theventilation system as described in claim 14, said air intake furthercomprising first and second branches communicating with individuallocations associated with said elongated module, each of said branchesincorporating a balancing damper for adjusting the intake air flow fromsaid branches and prior to delivery to said plenum.
 16. The ventilationsystem as described in claim 15, said plenum exhibiting a specifiedshape and size and further comprising a first downwardly extendingpassageway in communication with said air intake and within which aremounted a first baffle plate exhibiting a first surface area, bypercentage of flow through apertures, a second baffle plate beingposition below said first baffle plate and exhibiting a second surfacearea, by percentage of flow through apertures which is less than saidfirst percentage associated with said first baffle plate, said plenumfurther including a second reverse angled and upwardly extendingpassageway communicating with said first passageway and terminating insaid outlet.
 17. The ventilation system as described in claim 14,further comprising a vacuum generating blower incorporated into anexterior location of said exhaust.
 18. A supply plenum module for usewith a hood filter assembly for a cooking appliance and which maintainsan atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed spacesurrounding the cooking appliance, comprising: the hood establishing asubstantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configurationand which is supported in generally elevated fashion above theappliance, a filter being disposed within an interior of the hood andcommunicating with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from the enclosedspace; an air intake having first and second branches, each of whichincorporating a balancing damper for adjusting an intake air flow fromsaid branches; said air intake branches communicating with individuallocations associated with a supply plenum further comprising athree-dimensional and elongated module secured in downwardly extendingfashion along a side of the hood and in order to be arrayed in opposingfashion to a corresponding side of the cooking appliance; said plenumfurther including first and second baffle plates secured within itswidthwise extending interior for regulating at least one of a flowvelocity and distribution of an airflow originating from said airintake; and said plenum terminating in an upwardly angled outlet forintroducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting inheating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by saidhood, thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within theenclosed space.
 19. The ventilation system as described in claim 18,said first baffle plate exhibiting a first surface area, by percentageof flow through apertures, said second baffle plate being position belowsaid first baffle plate and exhibiting a second surface area, bypercentage of flow through apertures which is less than said firstpercentage associated with said first baffle plate.
 20. The ventilationsystem as described in claim 19, said first baffle plate exhibiting 48%by surface area of available flow through apertures, said second baffleplate exhibiting 40% by surface area of available flow throughapertures.